A 2022 Statistics Canada survey conduced in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces shows that 1,960 Regular Force members—or 3.5 percent—reported that they had been sexually assaulted involving Canadian Armed Forces or other military members in the year preceding the survey. That’s a big increase from the previous reporting periods.

The rate of sexual assault—which included unwanted sexual touching, sexual attacks, and sexual activity where the victim was unable to consent—is a significant increase from rates reported in 2016 (1.7 per cent) and 2018 (1.6 per cent).

Reports of sexual assault were more prevalent among women (7.5 per cent) than men (2.8 per cent) who served in the Regular Force in 2022.

The highest level of reports, 8.8 per cent were among members who are not heterosexual.

The most common form of sexual assault experienced by Regular Force members was unwanted sexual touching (3.3 per cent), while smaller proportions of Regular Force members were victims of sexual attacks (0.6 per cent) and sexual activity where they were unable to consent (0.6 per cent).

One third of those reporting sexual assault believed that it was related to the perpetrator’s use of alcohol or drugs.

Lieutenant General Jennie Caringan is encouraged with an increase in reporting and bystander intervention when incidents occur. Stats Canada says most of the victims of sexual assault did not report the incident to anyone in authority, and Lt General Carignan says many felt that the way in which the complaint was addressed was “more harmful than the incident itself.” In that regard, says Carignan, they aim to “do better.